News: XMM Australian shares climb nearly 1% as miners, banks shine

July 29 (Reuters) - Australian shares climbed nearly 1% on Monday, led by miners following fresh stimulus from top metals consumer China, while investors awaited domestic inflation report due this week to assess the central bank's rate trajectory.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) was up 0.9% at 7,994.1 points, as of 0037 GMT, after losing 0.6% last week. The Aussie dollar was 0.2% weaker against the greenback at A$0.66.

Market participants are awaiting June-quarter consumer price data due on Wednesday, which will be a crucial factor for the Reserve Bank of Australia to weigh in, before it meets on Aug. 6 to announce its interest rate decision.

In Sydney, heavyweight miners .AXMM climbed 1.1% after iron ore prices rebounded as stimulus package from China appeared bullish for manufacturing activity.

Australian mining giants Rio Tinto (RIO) and BHP (BHP) were trading 1.4% and 0.8% higher, respectively.

Also lifting the benchmark index, financials .AXFJ added as much as 1.1%, with the "Big Four" lenders up between 0.8% and 1.2%.

Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose 0.36% to $81.42 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 gained 0.22% to $77.33 per barrel.

On Friday, the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 654.27 points, or 1.64%, at 40,589.34 points. The S&P 500 .SPX .SPX gained 59.88 points, or 1.11% while Nasdaq .IXIC gained 176.16 points, or 1.03%.

The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR rose to 4.1783%, compared with its U.S. close of 4.2%.

Local gold stocks jumped 2% as bullion prices were higher after U.S. Treasury yields slipped on rate-cut hopes.

Tech stocks .AXIJ climbed 1.5% in anticipation of strong earnings from the so-called Magnificent Seven this week.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) inched 0.2% lower to 12,324.73 points.

In corporate news, shares of Fletcher Building (FBU) fell as much as nearly 4% after the construction services provider flagged supply chain disruption at its cements business.